Internal combustion engine



June 23, 1931. q, KREIS' 1 1,810,917

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 5. 1928 2'3 C'arburefir 1 Z /9 INVEN TOR. Oscar C. Iirei A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 23, 1931 UNi'ran s'ra res PATENT orrics OSCAR G. KRE IS, OF DETROIT,- IVIICHIGAN, FISSIGIIGR TO CONTINENTAL .MOTORS COR- .PORATION, OF DETROIT, MEGL-IIGAII, A CGRPOEATJION 9F VIRGINIA Application filed March 5,

This invention relatesto internal combustion engines and hasamong its objects the provision of means for improving the general performance of the engine. 1

In engines of the hydrocarbon type it is common practice to employ a carburetor or other mixing device for vaporizing the hydrocarbon with air, the fuel mixture being then conducted to the enginecylinders for combu'stion. It has been determined that a certain portion of the hydrocarbon is carried along with the fuel mixture in liquid form, not being vaporized by the carburetor. Such a condition is generally prevalent with the present-day fuels commonly used for-internal combustion engines, and is particularly pronounced in starting an engine as in cold weather or after the engine has been idle for a sufiicient lengthof time to have cooled rela- 29 tive to its normal operating temperature. At such times, and also to a lesser extent during the normal operation of the engine, the wet fuel particles including condensed portions of the fuel mixture tend to collect in the conduit intermediate the carburetor and cylinders, resulting in a sluggish action of the engine, diiiiculty in starting and generally undesirable engine performance.

My invention in its broad aspects is applicable to any type of hydrocarbon engine of the carbureted fuel mixture type. Generic claims embodying my invention are included in my co-pe'nding application Serial No. 251,789 filed February 4:, 1928. My present application is directed particularly to means for removing the wet fuel particles especially adapted for poppet valve or like types of engines. This may be done in several ways although I prefer for simplicity and convenience to collect the wet fuel particles andpreferably to remove the collected wet fuel particles by suction. Thus I may remove the wet fuel particles by'suction derived by the engine piston, the wet particles beingconducted from the fuel mixture supply conduit to a suitable point of disposal, preferably into the cylinder separately from the supply conduit. By such a general engine construction I have g a y mproved the, ta g 1928. Serial No. 259,019.

ability of the engine as well as overcoming the sluggish action of the engine;

One important application of my present invention relates to poppet valve or like types of engines as distinguished from sleeve valve engines. I have. illustrated my invention in connection with a typical well known type of engine known as the L-head type, although as aforesaid my inventionisjalso applicable co-other general types of engines and valve arrangement. It is not my purpose therefore to limit my invention except as specifically recited in the appended claims. r

In the accompanying drawings in which ing parts, p

Fig. 1 is a sectional viewthrough one of the cylindersand intake manifold of a typical poppetvalve engine, illustrating my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the engine the piston completing the intake stroke.

Referring to the drawings reference char acter 10 illustrates the engine cylinder block having cylinders 11 jacketed at 12 for circulation of a cooling fluid. The cylinder ends are closed by the usual cylinder head 13 to provide a valved combustion chamber 14. The usual intake and exhaust-valves may be like reference characters indicate.correspond provided for each chamber 14,- theintake valvebeing illustrated at 15 controlling intake port 16. The intake'port 16 communi cates with the fuel mixture supply manifold 17 through cylinder intake passage 18 it be ing understood that branch passageslS are provided singly or in groups for thevarious intake ports of the, various cylinders of the engine. 19 represents a conventional carburetor for supplying carbureted commercial gasoline or other hydrocarbon to the intake manifold. The engine thus far described is in'the main conventional and well known, further description of the details being deemed'unnecessary forthe purpose of a full and'comprehensive disclosure of my invention.

In order to collect or concentrate the un vaporized and condensed particles of hydrocarbon and fuelmixture passing from the carburetor 19' to the intake ports 1@ 1 prowith vide one or more traps 20 for each cylinder conduit 18 or the trap may be constructed in the nature of a header for a plurality of the conduits 18. The floor of the conduit 18 is ordinarily sloped downwardly and outwardly from port 16 to theside of the cylinder block so that any wet particles tending to form or collect in this portion of the fuel mixture supply system will drain by gravity toward andinto the trap 20. The wet particles collected in the trap 20 may be disposed of as desired, it being one feature of my invention to provide means for conducting the wet particles by suction into, one or more cylinders of the engine. Thus the trap 20 communicates with a port 21 in the cylinder wall, a suitable conduit 22 conducting the wet particles from the trap 20' to the port 21. Interposed at a convenient point'in the drain system is a valve chamber 22 and associated check valve 23 yieldingly urged to its seat by a spring 24.

The port 21 is suitably timed with respect to the-engine piston 25 so as to be uncovered by thedownward travel of the piston, preferably towardthe end ofthe piston downward stroke.

' In operation, assuming the piston 25 as in Fig. 1 on. its=downward intake stroke, the port 21 is preferably covered by the piston during its initial downward travel and the valve 23 is seated by reason of spring 23'. As

' the intake stroke continuesthe piston uncovers port 21 as in Fig. 2- and the suction Within the engine cylinder created by the piston will act in conduit 22 to unseat the valve 23. Thus, the wet fuel mixture particles, drained by the intake systemproper and collected in trap 20 will be removed from the intakesystem and passed through the conduit 22 into the engine,cylimder. On the upward compressionstroke and upward eX- haus't stroke ofthe piston, thepressure in the cylinder and in conduit 22, during that portion of the stroke when port 21 is open to the cylinder, will act with spring 21 to keep tlievalve 24E seated. Similarly when the explosion or working downward stroke of the piston takes place the cylinder pressure will keep the valve 23 seated. By varying the position of port 21 with respect to thepis ton strokethe degree and duration of suction exerted in conduit 22 may be varied as desired under the circumstances.

By reason of my invention. the Wet fuel particles are removed, from the fuel intake system betweenthe carburetor and cylinder intakeports-as-fast as they accumulate. Any wet particles collecting between successive intake strokes for any cylinder will build up in the trap 20 at. the rear of valve 23 fandwill be removed at-the next suction stroke. The relatively small capacity ofthe conduit 22 with respect tothe intakemanifold 17 is not sufiicient to interfere with the normal functioning of the engine intake.

I prefer to provide a conduit 22 for each engine cylinder in order to obtain the same conditions of operation for each engine cylinder although if desired for simplicity the wet fuel particles may be conducted fromv the intake system to any one or more cylinders.

WVhat I claim asmy invention is:

1'. In. an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a conduit for supplying a vaporized hydrocarbon; to the cylinder, a second conduit communicating with the first said conduit and with the cylinder independently of the first said conduit for removing therefrom unvaporized portions of the hydrocarbon, and a check valve controlling the said second conduit. i

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a conduit for supplying a vaporized hydrocarbon to the cylinder, a second conduit. directly communicating with the cylinder and also communicating with first said conduit for removing therefrom unvaporized portions of the hydrocarbon, an intake valve for the first conduit, and valve means for the second conduit.

In an internal combustion engine, a conduit for supplying a vaporized hydrocarbon Yto the engine, ase'cond conduit communicatmg with the first said conduit for removing therefrom unvaporized portions of'the'hyd'rocarbon, a cylinder and associated piston,and a valve in the second conduit adapted to be unseated by the suction created in the cylinder by the piston; v 4. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and associated piston, the piston'having sliding contact with the cylinder, a fuel mixture intake system for thecylinder, valve means between the cylin'der and intake system controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the cylinder, a suction conduit communicating with-the cylinder independently of the intake system and also communicating with the intake system for removing therefrom unvaporized' portions ofthe fuel-mixture, and

a valve controlling said conduit.

5; In an internal combustion engine hav-:

ing a cylinder and associated piston, a; fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, valve means between the cylinder and intake system controlling-the supply offuel mixture to the cylinder, a suction. conduit communicating with the intake system for removing therefrom unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture, said. suction conduit, communicate ing with the cylinder, independently of said intake system, and acheckvalve controlling said conduit, f t I v 6. In aninternalcombustion engine hav ing a cylinder and .a ssociate'dpiston, the piston having slidingcontact with the cylinder, a fuelmiktureint'ake system for the cylinder,

valve means between-the cylinder and intake system controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the cylinder, a suction conduit communieating with the vintake system .for'removing therefrom unva-porized portion of the fuel mixture, a cylinder port positioned with respect to the piston travel so as to be uncov ered by the piston during the downward intake stroke of the piston, said conduit communicating with said cylinder port.

7. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and associated piston, the piston having sliding contact with the cylinder, a fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, valve means between the cylinder and intake system controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the cylinder, a suction conduit communicating with the intake system for removing therefrom unvaporized portion of the fuel mixture, a cylinder port positioned with respect to the piston travel so as to be uncovered by the piston during the downward intake stroke of the piston, said conduit communicating with said cylinder port, and valve means controlling said conduit.

8. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and associated piston, a fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, valve means between the cylinder and intake system controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the cylinder, a suction conduit communicating with the intake system for removing therefrom unvaporized portion of the fuel mixture, a cylinder port positioned with respect to the piston travel so as to be uncovered by the piston during the downward intake stroke of the piston, said conduit communieating with said cylinder port, and a valve in the conduit adapted to be unseated by the suction created in the cylinder by the piston.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder block having a cylinder, a piston slidably contacting with the cylinder, an intake valve, a fuel mixture supply system including a cylinder block intake passageway controlled by said intake valve, said passageway having a floor sloping generally downwardly from said valve and outwardly of the cylinder block, a trap collecting wet fuel mixture particles drained by said sloping floor, and a conduit opening to the cylinder and said trap, and a valve controlling said conduit.

10. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder block having a cylinder, a piston, an intake valve, a fuel mixture supply system including a cylinder block intake passageway controlled by said intake valve, said passageway having a floor sloping generally downwardly from said valve and outwardly of the cylinder block, a trap collecting wet fuel mixture particles drained by said sloping floor, a conduit opening to the cylinder and said trap, and a valve in the conduit adapted to be unseated by the suction created in the cylinder by the piston;

ized hydrocarbonto said manifold, a cylinder 1 port positioned with respectto the piston travel so as to be uncovered by the piston during its intake stroke, a trap adapted to collect we'tfuel mixture particles drained by said passageway, a conduitcommunicating. with the cylinder port and withthe trap, and a valve controlling the said conduit. Y

12. In an internal. combustion engine of the poppet valve L-headtype including a cylinder block having a cylinder and associated piston, a cylinder block intake passage extending from the side of thecylinder block upwardlyand inwardly thereof, a poppet valve controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the cylinder through'said passageway, {an

intake manifold. communicating with. said passageway, a carburetor supply-ing vaporized hydrocarbon to said manifold, a cylinder port positioned with respect to the" piston travel so as to benncovered by the piston during its intake stroke, a-trap adapted to collect wet fuel mixture particles drained by said passageway, a conduit communicating with the cylinder port and with the trap, and a check valve in; said conduit adapted to unseat as the piston uncovers the said port during the intake stroke-of the pistonw 13. In an internal combustionengine'having a cylinder and associated piston, the piston having sliding contact with the cylinder, a .fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, valve means between the cylinder and intake system controlling-thesupply of fuel mixture to the cylinder, 'asuction conduit communicating with the intake system forremoving therefrom unvaporiZed portions of the fuelmixtur'e, and a valve controlling said conduit, said second valve adapted'to unseat only during at least a portion of the engine intake cycle. 14. In anflinternal combustion engine, a conduit for; supplying a vaporized hydrocarbon to. the engine, a second conduit communicating'with the first said conduit for removing therefromiunvaporized portions of the hydrocarbon, a cylinder .and. associated piston, and arvalve' in the second conduit adapted-to beunseated 'by the suction created inzthe cylinder by thepiston, only during at leasta-portion of the piston suction stroke. 15. An internal combustion engine com prising in combination, a cylinder, a piston having sliding contact with the cylinder, fuel mixture supply means'for the cylinder, valve 1 means: controlling the-passage of fuel mixture to saidcylinder, means in direct communication with. the cylinder and also. in communi cation with the fuel mixture supply means for removing therefrom unvapori'zed portionsof the fuel mixture, and a second valve means for the said communication means.

16., An engine comprising in combination, acylinder, a piston therein having sliding contact with the cylinder, a fuel mixture intakesystem for the cylinder, valve means con trolling said intake to the cylinder, means communicating with the intake system for conductingtherefrom unvaporized portions of the fuelmixture to said cylinder independently of the intake system, and valve means controlling said conducting means.

17 An engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a piston therein having sliding contact with the cylinder, a fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, valve means controlling said intake to the cylinder, means communicating with the intake system. for conducting therefrom unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture to-said cylinder independently of the intake system, and means controlled by said piston for inducing passage of the unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture into the cylinder;

18; An engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a piston therein having sliding contact with the cylinder, afuekmixture intake system for the cylinder, valvemeans controlling said intake to the cylinder, and valve controlled suction means inducing removal of unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture from the intake system.

19. An engine comprising in combination, a cylinder,-a piston therein, a fuel mixture intake system for the cylinder, andv valve means controlling said intake to the cylinder, and valve controlled suction means inducing removal of unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture from the intake system, the last named means being automatically actuated in response to suction created by the intake stroke of the piston. V f

20. In an internal combustion engine having a" cylinder and associated piston, a fuel mi'xt'ureintakesystem for the cylinder, valve means between the cylinder and intake system controlling the supply of fuel mixture to'the cylinder, a suction conduit communicating with the intake system for removing there'- from' unvaporized portions of the fuel mixt-ure, and a-val've controllingsaidconduit, said second valve adapted to unseat only during the l'atter portionof the engine intake cycle.

21; In an internal combustion engine, a conduit for supplying a vaporized hydrocarbon to the engine, a secondconduit' communicatin with the first said conduit for removing t 'erefrom unvapor-i'zed portions of the hydrocarbon, a cylinder and associated piston, and'ayal've-in the secondconduit adapted 

